How Einstein discovered the law of relativity

UNIT SEVEN

The Customer

Madame Tanguy

The Art Dealer

keep a shop; be fond of art; enjoy looking at sth; admire; have a true understanding of sth; be meant for enjoyment; a poor businessman; a kind, soft man; one's favourite painting; put in the shop window; mean a lot to sb; never expect sth to happen; try to stop sb; hopeless; argue that...; not for sale; be upset.

believe that money is more important than art; have a good head for business; be eager to make money; a hard woman; take a decision quickly; suggest; cut up a masterpiece; hurry to one's apartment; return with a pair of scissors; do an awful thing; be in a hurry to do sth before a person changes his mind; believe sth to be worthless; cut off the end apple; wrap sth in (a piece of) paper; hand to the customer; spoil a masterpiece; not mind it a bit; refuse to listen to sb; be eager to come to an arrangement with the customer at any price; not miss one's chance.

walk along the street; catch the eye (about the picture in the shop window); a beautiful still life; step into the shop; ask for the price; too expensive; hope to buy sth cheap; be prepared to spend...; be surprised to hear that...; like the idea; a fair offer; think sth over; hand over the money; walk out with the canvas under one's arm.

Ex 21 Test translation.

1. В Третьяковской галерее можно увидеть лучшие произведения мастеров русской. 2. Новая картина художника — подлинный шедевр. Она вызывает всеобщее восхищение. 3. Мой брат давно интересуется живописью и очень хочет поступить в художественное училище. 4. Русским балетом восхищаются во всем мире. 5. Последнюю неделю шли дожди, и уровень воды в реке резко поднялся. 6. Как бы вам за свою ошибку не пришлось расплачиваться всю жизнь. 7. Дети ужасно скучали по дому даже тогда, когда уезжали всего на несколько дней. 8. Хозяин дома поднялся навстречу гостю. 9. Как вы могли упустить такой прекрасный случай? Будет ли еще такой? 10. Мы не можем терять ни секунды (не можем позволить себе). Конференция открывается через два дня. 11. Он готов заплатить сколько угодно за этот словарь. Ему всегда хотелось иметь именно такой. 12. Если делать работу второпях, то можно все испортить. 13. — Сколько вы истратили на поездку в Звенигород? — Около двадцати рублей. 14. Я узнал совершенно случайно, что профессора положили в больницу. 15. С ответом не торопитесь. Я вам советую обдумать все как следует, прежде чем принять решение.

from Ch. Chaplin's Autobiography¹

I first met Einstein² in 1926. The great scientist had been invited to California³ to lecture.

I received a telephone call from Universal Studios,⁴ saying that Professor Einstein would like to meet me; I was so thrilled I gladly accepted the invitation. So we met at the Universal Studios for lunch, the Professor, his wife, his secretary and his Assistant Professor.⁵ Mrs Einstein spoke English very well, in fact better than the Professor. She was extremely proud of him and frankly enjoyed being the wife of the great physicist. She did not even try to hide the fact.

After lunch, while Einstein was being shown around the studio, Mrs Einstein took me aside and whispered: "Why don't you invite the Professor to your house? I know he will be delighted to have a nice quiet chat with just ourselves." It was to be a small affair, and I invited only two other friends. At dinner she told me the story of the morning when the theory of relativity first came to his mind.

"The Doctor⁶ came down in his dressing-gown as usual for breakfast but he hardly touched a thing. I thought something was wrong so I asked what was troubling him. 'Darling!' he said, 'I have a wonderful idea.' And after drinking his coffee, he went to the piano and started playing. Now and again he stopped, reached for his pencil, made a few notes, then repeated: 'I've got a wonderful idea, a marvelous⁷ ideal' "I said: 'What's the matter with you? Why don't you tell me what it is?'

"He said, 'I can't tell you yet. I still have to work it out.'"

She told me he continued playing the piano and making notes for half an hour, then he went upstairs to his study, telling her that he did not want anyone to disturb him, and remained there for two weeks.

"Each day I sent him up his meals," she said, "and in the evening he walked a little for exercise,⁸ then returned to his work again."

"At last," she said, "he appeared looking very pale and tired. In his hand he held two sheets of paper. 'That's it!' he told me, putting the sheets of paper on the table. And that was his theory of relativity."

(Adapted)

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